PickMe, Sri Lanka’s premier ride-hailing platform, has collaborated with PhonePe, India’s leading fintech company, to enable seamless UPI-based QR payments for Indian travellers in Sri Lanka. The partnership signifies a major step forward in enhancing their travel experience through the convenience of cashless transactions on PickMe rides, right from the moment they exit the Bandaranaike International Airport, PickMe said in a media release.
Managing foreign currency and ensuring enough cash for various expenses while travelling can often become a hassle. By integrating PhonePe’s UPI-based QR payment system into their platform, PickMe aims to minimise stress for Indian travellers visiting the island. The cashless payment option will make their ride-hailing on PickMe hassle-free and safer.
Commenting on the partnership, Jiffry Zulfer, CEO of PickMe said, “Currently we are the only ride-hailing platform in Sri Lanka to offer such a service to Indian travellers and we hope to continue to innovate, so that we make our ride-hailing service a convenient, safe and cost-effective mode of transportation for everyone. This collaboration not only enhances the convenience for Indian travellers but also supports our mission to drive digital transformation in Sri Lanka’s transportation sector. By enabling QR payments, we are making travel easier and safer for tourists, while also providing a new revenue stream for our drivers.”
Recently, PickMe extended its services to Jaffna and Anuradhapura to increase their accessibility across the country. As Sri Lanka’s largest app-based hailing service, PickMe offers the best solution for Indian travellers as well as other tourists looking to travel from Dondra Head in the south to Point Pedro in the north.
Ritesh Pai, CEO-International Payments at PhonePe added, “Our partnership with PickMe exemplifies the company’s commitment to provide Indian travellers with convenient and trusted payment solutions. Travel is all about exploring new cultures, where food and local shopping are an integral part of that adventure. Previously, navigating payments in a new country could be a hassle. Now, with PhonePe, Indian tourists visiting the beautiful island nation of Sri Lanka can enjoy the ease and security of UPI payments for their rides.”
The collaboration follows the launch of PhonePe last month, wherein the Indian High Commissioner H.E. Santosh Jha had urged companies in Sri Lanka to engage with Indian companies to build on the UPI stack for innovations in hotel bookings, cab bookings, delivery services etc. The High Commissioner commended such collaborations saying, “I am confident that with greater commercial engagement in the fintech sector, India and Sri Lanka will unlock innovation and transformation in the digital domain.”
The enabling of cashless transactions, while being a convenience for travellers, will also boost the local economy while providing more ride-hailing trips for PickMe’s extensive network of drivers. With technology playing an ever-increasing role in the daily lives of people, the future looks bright for cashless travel and the partnership between PickMe and PhonePe sets a new standard for convenience and efficiency in the travel and transportation sector.
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